Safety device for handling casing

ABSTRACT

A safety tool that removes thread protectors from casing and handles the casing while on a rig floor, for example, oil field casing, as the casing is being installed. It is a safety device because it allows the user to handle the moving end of a long length of casing and align that end with casing that it is being threaded to. Inserts are used to accommodate various sizes of pipe.

This application is a continuation-in-part application from Utility application Ser. No. 15/588,797, filed May 8, 2017 which is a utility application from provisional application Ser. No. 62/476,110, filed Mar. 24, 2017 from which priority is claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The device of the instant invention is a safety tool for removing thread protectors while handling casing, for example, oil field casing, as the casing is being installed. It is a safety device because it allows the user to handle the moving end of a long length of casing and align that end with the casing that is already installed. It removes thread protectors safely and rapidly and it handles casing when boxing the joint thus keeping hands and body safe from pinches and amputations when the two pieces of pipe are being joined. A search in the United States Patent and Trademark Office regarding such devices did not yield any prior art devices that are used for the same end use.

THE INVENTION

What is disclosed and claimed herein is a safety device for handling threaded casing. The device comprises a cylindrical housing comprising two, separate, essentially identical, one-half clam shell configurations having vertical edges.

The cylindrical housing has a first end and a second end, each of the first end and second end are larger in diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical housing.

Each of the one-half clam shell configurations has fixedly attached thereto, near an edge, one-half of a hinge mechanism. Each of the one-half clam shell configuration has a gripping handle fixedly attached to it near the edge opposite the handle, the gripping handles being closely adjacent to each other. The cylindrical housing has at least two interior inserts positioned along the inside wall of the housing. The inserts are fixedly detachable to the cylindrical housing.

In addition, it is contemplated within the scope of this invention to claim a device as set forth Supra, wherein the hinges are tab hinges and one-half of the hinges on the edge of the one-half clam shell configuration are both inside the location of the other one-half of the hinges on the separate, essentially identical, one-half clam shell configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is full front view of a device of this invention.

FIG. 1B is one-half clam shell configuration of the device of this invention showing the interior of the clam shell.

FIG. 2 is a full back view of a device of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a full back view showing alternate hinges on the device.

FIG. 4 is a full back view showing alternate hinges on the device.

FIG. 5 is a full top view of the device.

FIG. 6 is shows the threaded end of a casing having threads and the thread protector capping.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a tab hinge of this invention.

FIG. 8 is a view of a device of this invention with flat ring ends.

FIG. 9 is a view of one-half clam shell showing internal hinges.

FIG. 10 is a full side view showing hinges which are set into the housing wall.

FIG. 11 is a view in perspective of another hinge arrangement.

FIG. 12 is a view in perspective of the front side of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged portion of FIG. 11 showing the detail of the hinge.

FIG. 14 is a full front view of the device of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a full top view of the device showing the inserts.

FIG. 16 is a full side view of the device showing the inserts in phantom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1A, there is shown a device 1 of this invention from the front. The device 1 is comprised of a cylindrical housing 14 comprised of two one-half clam shell configurations 2 and 2′ each one-half clam shell configuration 2 and 2′ having a handle 3 and 3′ affixed thereto. The designation 19 shows the split between the two one-half clam shell configurations 2 and 2′.

FIG. 1B shows an interior view of one of the one-half clam shell configuration 2. This Figure also shows the vertical edges 5 and 5′ of the one-half clam shell configuration 2 along with a handle 3′ and tab hinges 6 and 6′ (the combination of tabs 9 and 10). Tab hinges 6 and 6′ are made up of tabs as shown in FIG. 7, which is a solid tab having a single opening 7 therethrough. The tabs 6 and 6′ are welded to the outside surface 8 of the housing 1 essentially opposite the handles 3 and 3′ and near the vertical edges 5 and 5′. The tab hinges 6 and 6′ are composed of two such tabs 9 and 10 and it should be noted that the tabs 6 and 6′ are arranged near the vertical edges 5 and 5′ such that there are two outer tabs 9 and two inner tabs 10 as shown in FIG. 2. In operation, the tabs 9 and 10 are rotatably connected by a pin 11 also shown in FIG. 2.

It has been shown through testing, that the tab hinges 6 and 6′ can have any arrangement on the surface of the housing 1, but the best arrangement seems to be two inside tabs and two outside tabs as show in FIG. 2.

With regard to door hinges 12 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the hinges are door hinges and are generally used on cupboards, household doors, and the like. They are welded onto the outside surface 8 of the housing 1 just as are the tab hinges 6 and 6′. Two such hinges 12 are generally sufficient on this device, but it is common to use more than two hinges, for example, 3 hinges as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 shows one configuration of hinges contemplated for use in this invention. Said hinges 21 are in the internal surface of the housing, located in grooves or slots 23 in the housing wall. In addition, FIG. 10 shows slots or grooves 24 in the external surface 8 of the housing to house hinges 22.

FIG. 11 is a view in perspective of yet another arrangement for hinges on the device of this invention showing the hinge 25 with hinge cap 26 to hold the pin in place. See also FIG. 13 for detail and the hinge rod 27.

FIG. 12 is the opposite view of the device of FIG. 11 and FIG. 14 is a full front view of the device of FIG. 11.

It should also be noted that the upper end 13 and the lower end 14 (there is actually no upper and lower ends in this device as it is exactly the same configuration on both ends) are fluted 15, or otherwise extended beyond the diameter of the housing wall. (see FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2, 3, 4, and 8). FIG. 8 shows a flat ring 20 welded on each end of the housing. The extension feature is highly desirable in the device 1 because it helps to remove the protective covering on the threads of oil casing without slipping down over the protective covering which sometimes occurs with straight sided devices, or does not slip between the thread protector and the piece of casing, thus reducing the potential for threads to be damaged, as was found during testing of the inventive device herein.

FIG. 5 is a full top view of the device of FIG. 4 showing the one-half clam shell configurations 2 and 2′, the handles 3 and 3′, the hinge 12, the fluted end 15, and the openings or splits 4.

FIG. 6 shows an end of a casing 16 used in the oil field business having threads 17 and a protective covering 18.

In operation, as casing is being fitted into the drilling hole, and segments of casing are being added incrementally by threading one casing to another, the casing that is to be joined is lifted from a storage pile of such casings and lifted by cable towards and up to the in-place casing. Sometime during this transition, the worker is able to open the device of this invention and arrange it around the moving casing above the threaded, capped end.

Because of this encompassing action by the worker, the worker is now able to guide and direct the casing towards the in-place casing and help place the threaded end of the transferred casing on the in-place casing using the handles provided on the device of this invention (boxing the joint is the term used for this maneuver).

Prior to engaging the moving casing with the in-place casing, the worker slidably draws the device of this invention rapidly down towards the protecting cover on the casing, and thereby is able to remove the covering from the threads. The worker then gently maneuvers the clean threaded end of the casing over to and unto the in-place casing to bring the threads in alignment.

The safety tool is removed and a power tong is then attached to the new casing and the device of this invention is removed and the power tong drives the threaded pieces together.

By being able to handle the transferred casing by the use of the inventive device, the worker is not subjected to wildly moving casing and the device works as a safety device.

In prior art methods of providing casing in this manner, it takes about 60 seconds to draw the new casing into place, aligning it with the threaded ends, and starting to engage the threads with the in-place casing. Using the device of this invention, this can be accomplished in less than 10 seconds. It increases productivity by up to 600 percent.

The device of this invention generally weighs less than 20 pounds and is therefore easily handled by a workman. Further, it should be obvious that the diameter of the housing of this invention is slightly larger than the casing on which it is to be used such that it will tentatively grip the casing, but will be able, when necessary, to slide down the casing and remove the thread protector.

The device of this invention is generally manufactured from metal, such as steel or iron, or it can be manufactured from hard plastic. Hard plastic is any plastic that can remove the thread protector from the casing without damaging the hard plastic.

Another embodiment of this invention is the use of inserts 28 within the cylindrical housing 14 to accommodate various sizes of pipe. Thus, one does not have to have a number of devices of this invention to fit various sizes of pipe, but can use inserts 28 as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 is a full top view of the device showing the inserts 28 and screws 29 that hold them in place. The inserts 28 are fixedly detachable and in the FIGS. 15 and 16, the means of attachment are screws 29. There should be at least two inserts 28 in each of the one-half clam shell configurations. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A safety device for handling threaded casing said device comprising: a cylindrical housing comprising two, separate, essentially identical, one-half clam shell configurations having vertical edges; said cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end, each of said first end and second end being larger in diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical housing; each one-half clam shell configuration having fixedly attached thereto, near an edge, one-half of a hinge mechanism; each one-half clam shell configuration having a gripping handle fixedly attached thereto near the edge opposite said hinges, said gripping handles being vertically oriented on said one-half clam shell configuration, closely adjacent to each other.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hinges are tab hinges and said one-half of said hinges on said edge of said one-half clam shell configuration are both inside the location of said other one-half of said hinges on said separate, essentially identical, one-half claim shell configuration.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one-half hinge mechanism is nearer said fluted ends and said other one-half hinge mechanism is located inside said one-half hinge mechanism near said fluted ends.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hinges are hardware hinges.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are two said hinges.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are three said hinges.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hinge is built into the body of said device and consists of a hinge with a cap to hold a pin in place.
 8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is manufactured from metal.
 9. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the metal is steel.
 10. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the metal is iron.
 11. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is manufactured from hard plastic.
 12. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the hard plastic is cross-linked polyethylene.
 13. A safety device for handling threaded casing said device comprising: a cylindrical housing comprising two, separate, essentially identical, one-half clam shell configurations having vertical edges; said cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end, each of said first end and second end being larger in diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical housing; each one-half clam shell configuration having fixedly attached thereto, near an edge, one-half of a hinge mechanism; each one-half clam shell configuration having a gripping handle fixedly attached thereto near the edge opposite said handle, said gripping handles being vertically oriented on said one-half clam shell configuration, closely adjacent to each other; each said one-half clam shell configuration having at least two interior inserts positioned along a wall, said inserts being fixedly detachable to said cylindrical housing.
 14. The safety device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said inserts are manufactured from metal. 